Benton County Inmate Population
Benton County Corrections operates the Benton County Jail in Kennewick as the local custody hub. The facility holds people arrested by agencies across Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, Prosser, Benton City, and unincorporated Benton County. It also serves outside agencies by contract, so a Benton County jail roster result may show a local charge, a court commitment, a warrant surrender, a Benton County Alternative Programs entry, or a contract hold. A sample profile inspected during research included a "USM CONTRACT" charge description, which means some federal pre-trial or transport custody can appear in the county jail roster even though the jail is not a federal prison.
The county inmate population is not the same thing as the full sentenced-prison population. Pre-trial detainees and short local sentences are tracked through Benton County Corrections. People sentenced to Washington state prison move to the Washington State Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. Federal prisoners use BOP or U.S. Marshals channels, and immigration detainees use ICE systems. That split matters because one name can move from booking, to court, to state or federal custody without staying in one public lookup.
Benton County Inmate Population Statistics
The most useful official figures are the county's own average daily population and stated jail capacity. Benton County Corrections reported an average daily population of 475 inmates and a capacity of 720 inmates on the main Corrections page reviewed July 2, 2026. The live Tyler/New World roster search with the In Custody box checked returned 398 current records on July 2, 2026. That roster count is a point-in-time snapshot, while the average daily population is the better standing figure for planning and capacity context.
| Measure | Figure | Source / Date |
|---|---|---|
| Official average daily population | 475 inmates | Benton County Corrections main page, reviewed July 2, 2026 |
| Rated jail capacity | 720 beds | Benton County Corrections About Us and main Corrections pages, reviewed July 2, 2026 |
| Current in-custody roster count | 398 records | Tyler/New World roster search, inspected July 2, 2026 |
| Historical census jail count | 567 prisoners | Prison Policy Initiative Census 2020 correctional table, survey date December 31, 2013 |
| Annual bookings | Not located | No current official Benton County annual booking total was found in the research file |
The official average daily population equals about 66 percent of the 720-bed capacity. The July 2, 2026 roster snapshot equals about 55 percent of capacity. Those calculations should be read as capacity context, not as a promise that the jail count will remain at those levels. Bookings, releases, court orders, holds, and transfers can change the live count many times in a week.
Benton County Jail Capacity
Benton County's capacity history is unusually clear. The county says the new jail opened to inmates on April 1, 2003 with 561 beds. After renovation of the old jail facility, the connected facilities reached the current 720-bed capacity. That history explains why Benton County Jail serves as a regional county facility rather than a small city lockup. It takes arrestees from multiple local police agencies, sheriff cases, court commitments, self-surrenders, and contract custody.
Population trend data is thinner than the capacity data. The research did not locate a county-published year-by-year average daily population series, an average length of stay, or an official demographic breakdown by race, sex, age, charge level, or pre-trial status. The public roster provides individual fields, but it should not be turned into demographic claims. The table below uses only sourced figures and labels the older count as historical.
| Year / Date | ADP, Count, or Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2003 | 561-bed capacity | New Benton County jail opened to inmates |
| December 31, 2013 | 567 prisoners | Historical Census correctional population table for Benton Co. Jail |
| Current connected facility | 720-bed capacity | Capacity after renovation of the old jail facility |
| July 2, 2026 | 475 average daily population | Official Benton County Corrections main page |
| July 2, 2026 | 398 current roster records | Live Tyler roster snapshot with In Custody checked |
Benton County Jail Record Laws
Washington law separates the public jail register from other jail records. RCW 70.48.100 requires a public jail register showing each confined person's name, the hour and date of confinement, the cause of confinement, and the hour, date, and manner of discharge. The same law treats other inmate records as confidential except for listed releases, such as criminal justice agency use, the confined person, an attorney or designee with written permission, or a court order. That distinction is why roster basics can be public while medical notes, jail calls, internal files, and many booking-photo requests are restricted.
Key access rules:
Chapter 42.56 RCW is Washington's Public Records Act for agency records that are not exempt.
RCW 42.56.520 sets the public-records response framework for providing records, estimating time, seeking clarification, or denying with an exemption.
RCW 70.48.090 allows jail-service contracts, which fits Benton County's statement that it serves outside agencies by contract.
RCW 70.48.510 governs unexpected fatality review for deaths in city or county jail custody.
Court records use a different path. Benton County's public-records guidance says court documents are not handled through the county's ordinary Public Records Act process. Filed criminal cases are searched through Washington Courts, re:SearchWA, District Court records requests, or the Benton County Clerk, with court access governed by rules such as GR 31.
Search Benton County Inmates
The official online path starts at the Benton County Daily Jail Roster page, which links to the Tyler/New World Benton County Inmate Inquiry. The county gives a practical search tip: less is more. A first name alone or last name alone may work better than a full name with spelling errors. If the exact booking date is not known, the county says to delete the dates from both date boxes. The In Custody box controls whether the result is limited to people currently jailed.
The Tyler/New World roster search page shows the fields used for Benton County current and recent jail records.
The search form is best for county-jail custody, not state-prison, federal-prison, or immigration custody after transfer.
- Open the county Daily Jail Roster page, then use the linked Tyler/New World roster.
- Search by one name field first. Use a last name or first name, not both, when spelling is uncertain.
- Clear the Booking From Date and Booking To Date fields unless the booking date is known.
- Keep In Custody checked when the question is whether the person is currently in jail.
- Open the linked name to review booking history, housing facility, bond, bail, photos timestamps, and charge rows.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Text | Unspecified | County recommends using fewer terms, such as first or last name only. |
| Subject Number | Text | Optional | Numeric person identifier shown in results. |
| Booking Number | Text | Optional | Observed format was YYYY-00000000. |
| In Custody | Checkbox | Optional | Checked means currently jailed only. |
| Booking From / To Date | Date fields | Optional | Delete dates if the exact booking date is unknown. |
| Housing Facility | Dropdown | Optional | Options include Benton County Alternative Programs and Benton County Corrections Deptment. |
Benton County Inmate Record Fields
A Benton County jail profile can contain more information than the search results grid. The grid shows name, subject number, in-custody status, multiple-booking flag, and housing facility. The detail page can show demographic information, a photos section, booking history, bond and bail totals, bond table rows, charge rows, docket numbers, sentence fields, disposition fields, crime class, arresting agency, and attempt or commit status. Blank fields should not be treated as proof that a fact does not exist. They often mean the public view did not display it.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Subject Number | Person identifier in the Tyler roster. |
| Booking Number | Booking-event identifier for a specific jail admission. |
| Booking Date | Date and time the person was booked into Benton County Jail. |
| Housing Facility | Current facility or program, such as Benton County Corrections or Alternative Programs. |
| Total Bond / Bail | Aggregate amount shown for the booking when public data exists. |
| Charges Table | Charge description, counts, offense date, docket, disposition, sentence, arresting agency, and bond fields. |
| Photos | Booking-photo section or timestamps when available, subject to Washington jail-record limits. |
- Jail register
- The public register required by RCW 70.48.100 for name, confinement cause, and discharge basics.
- Subject number
- A person identifier in the roster, separate from the booking number.
- Detainer
- A hold or notice from another agency that can affect release.
- Classification
- The jail's process for deciding housing and custody level after intake.
Benton County Jail vs DOC
County jail and state prison searches answer different questions. Benton County Jail is for local jail custody: arrest bookings, pre-trial detention, short sentences, warrant turn-ins, self-surrenders, and some contract holds. Washington DOC is for sentenced state prisoners after a court sentence leads to prison commitment. A person may leave the Benton County inmate population and later appear in the DOC locator after transfer.
| Custody Type | Best Search | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-trial or short local sentence | Benton County Tyler roster | Current and recent Benton County Jail custody |
| Sentenced state prisoner | Washington DOC Incarcerated Search | DOC number, name, age, and location fields |
| Federal sentenced prisoner | BOP Inmate Locator | BOP custody and releases since 1982 |
| Federal pre-trial custody | USMS or federal court channels | Transport, contract custody, and federal warrants without a county-style roster |
| Immigration detention | ICE Online Detainee Locator | A-Number/country or biographic search, without mugshots |
The Washington DOC Incarcerated Search is separate from Benton County's jail roster.
DOC results are useful after sentencing, while the Benton County roster remains the best first check for someone just arrested or held locally.
Benton County Custody Channels
Not every Benton County inmate population question is answered by the online roster. The jail phone is the fallback for immediate custody, release, property, and medical-routing questions. Sheriff Mike Clark's office remains the elected sheriff's office for law-enforcement records, while Benton County Corrections publishes the jail roster and jail-operation pages. Court records are searched separately because charges filed after an arrest become court records, not jail roster records. VINELink is a notification tool, not the official jail roster.
| Channel | Use It For | Local Detail |
|---|---|---|
| County roster | Current and recent jail custody | Free Tyler/New World search, no login |
| Jail phone | Immediate custody, release, property, or care questions | Benton County Corrections business phone is 509-783-1451 |
| In person | Self-surrender, warrant turn-in, property pickup, jail business | Main lobby or after-hours entrance depending on time |
| Public records | Jail register or agency records not online | Sheriff NextRequest portal or public-records officer route |
| Washington Courts | Filed charges and case status | Case Search updates within a 24-hour time frame |
| VINELink / WA VINE | Custody notifications | VINELink can support alerts but does not replace the roster |
Benton County Detention Facilities
The facility map resolves to one Benton County facility page. Benton County Jail is the county jail and corrections facility at the Benton County Justice Center in Kennewick. No separate municipal jail, Washington DOC prison, BOP prison, ICE detention facility, or second physical jail in Benton County was confirmed in the official sources reviewed. Alternative Programs should be read as a program or custody status under Benton County Corrections, not as a separate facility page.
- Benton County Jail holds pre-trial detainees, local sentenced inmates, self-surrenders, warrant turn-ins, city arrestees, Alternative Programs participants, and some contract or other-agency holds.
Benton County Corrections publishes the main facility information for the jail.
The county page is the source for the official jail address, capacity statement, and average daily population used above.
Contact Benton County Jail
The main jail contact point is Benton County Jail / Benton County Corrections, 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Suite B110, Kennewick, WA 99336, phone 509-783-1451. The jail does not accept incoming calls for inmates. Mail must use the inmate's roster name, optional housing unit, Benton County Jail, 7122 W Okanogan Place, #B110, Kennewick, WA 99336, with a USPS return address that includes an identifiable first and last name.
Phone funding uses ViaPath / ConnectNetwork. Video visitation is on demand and started by the inmate through tablet access during out-of-cell and dayroom times. Benton County says each inmate receives 30 free video minutes per week. Commissary deposits can be made through Access Corrections online, by phone at 1-866-345-1884, or through the cash-only kiosk in the jail lobby. Visitor account funds for video visits use gettingout.com or 866-516-0115.
Benton County Inmate Population FAQ
How large is the Benton County inmate population? Benton County Corrections reported an average daily population of 475 inmates and capacity for 720 inmates on pages reviewed July 2, 2026. The live roster showed 398 current records that same day, but that count changes.
Where should a Benton County inmate search start? Start with the county Daily Jail Roster page and the Tyler/New World Inmate Inquiry portal. Use one name field first, clear date fields if the booking date is unknown, and keep In Custody checked for current jail custody.
Does the roster show sentenced state prisoners? No. Sentenced state prisoners from Benton County move to Washington DOC custody and should be searched through the DOC Incarcerated Search after transfer.
Are Benton County booking photos public? The Tyler profile can include a Photos or Booking Photos section with timestamps. Washington's jail-record law makes the jail register public but restricts other inmate records, so do not assume a booking photo can be downloaded or released through an ordinary request.
Is there a Benton County WA sheriff app for inmate search? No official Benton County WA Sheriff or major city police app with jail roster or warrant-search features was confirmed in the official app-store research.